If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident your SIN will begin with "9" and will have an expiry date linked to your status in Canada

This will indicate to an employer that you need specific permission to work in Canada.

Banks and credit providers will generally be more reluctant to extend credit to those whose SIN begins with "9" (but see below)

If you extend your temporary status in Canada, you may obtain a new SIN card with a new expiry date. The number will remain the same.

Even if you are a temporary resident, if you previously had a SIN beginning with a number other than "9" you may still use it. For example, if you are a former permanent resident, former Canadian citizen or a former temporary resident who was issued with a full-validity SIN before the existing rules were introduced.

A non-resident may be given a tax identification number if they have Canadian source income. These numbers are similar to Social Insurance Numbers but begin with a "0".

A SIN card where the first digit begins with 9 that does not have an expiry date is no longer valid. You will need to re-apply for a SIN card. It will have the same number.

If you switch status from temporary to permanent resident (or in the small number of cases where you become a Canadian citizen directly from temporary residence), you will need to apply for a new "permanent" Social Insurance Number where the first digit will be from 1 to 7.

Note that you are required to give your SIN to people or organizations that give you taxable income, or to government departments. E.g. banks (if you have funds on deposit), employers, investment trusts etc. The Canadian Government recommends that, as a precaution against identity theft, you do not give your SIN to organizations that do not have a legitimate need, such as credit reference agencies, loan companies and so on.

However, there are some situations in which your child may need a SIN, for example, if you invest in a Registered Education Savings Plan(RESP) on behalf of your child.

Service Canada’s Newborn Registration Service is an integrated birth registration and SIN application process. This service is available in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.Newborn Registration Service